Binocular carrying case



Jan. 10, 1967 Filed Feb. 25, 1966 P. J. CASSIDY ETAL BINOCULAR CARRY INGCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l NVENTOFPS DATFEICK J CASSIDY MILTON L.. QUAMMENBYW ATTORN W Jan. 10, 1967 P. J. CASSIDY ETAL 3,297,218

BINOGULAR CARRYING CASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1966 54 a4VINVENTOPS DATRICKJCASSIDY NHLTON L..QLJAMMEN ATTOR evs Jan. 10, 1967PQJ. CASSIDY ETAL BINOCULAR CARRYING CASE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb.25, 1966 Y mm 5M 5 am 6 m A N N R EJQZ W LU T 7 IC w 9 mm A T o 5 w a 6M mu a, s 4 X United States Patent 3,297,218 BINOCULAR CARRYING CASEPatrick J. Cassidy and Milton L. Quammen, Philadelphia,

Pa., assignors to the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 531,648 8 Claims.(Cl. 224-26) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government for governmental purposes without the paymentto us of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to a binocular carrying case and more particularlyto a plastic binocular carrying case which is vacuum formed.

In the past binocular carrying cases were constructed of leather therebybeing very heavy and bulky. When the case was accidently banged againsta wall or dropped the binocular inside was damaged. The leather alsofailed to protect the binocular from damage due to dust and water. Therewas also a problem caused by the growth of fungus on the leather.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide abinocular carrying case, vacuum formed, of plastic.

Another object is the provision of a plastic binocular carrying casedesigned to protect the binocular against dust, water, and roughhandling.

Still another object is to provide a binocular carrying case which givesmaximum physical protection while minimizing size and weight.

A further object is the provision of a binocular carrying case that willnot support the growth of fungus.

The above objects as well as others together with the benefits andadvantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to thedetailed description set forth below, particularly when taken inconjunction with the drawings annexed hereto in which:

FIG. 1 shows the binocular carrying case of the present invention, inthe closed position, as being carried on the body of a person.

FIG. 2 shows the binocular carrying case, in the open position, as beingcarried by the body of a person.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the binocular carrying case.

FIG. 4 shows the rear view of the binocular carrying case.

FIG. 5 shows the top plan View with lid open.

FIG. 6 shows the view as taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5 with the lidclosed.

FIG. 7 shows the view as taken along lines 77 of FIG. 4.

As seen in FIG. 1, a plastic, vacuum formed binocular carrying case 10is seen releasably secured to a persons belt. The case is closed andthis position will cause the least amount of discomfort to the wearer.

In FIG. 2, the same case 10 has been opened, and because of the novelconstruction of the case it will fall away from the wearer so that hemay remove the binocular with the greatest amount of ease. As it can beseen in FIG. 2, the binocular 12 extends above the edge of the case 10allowing the wearer to grasp and remove same quickly and easily.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-7, binocular carrying case 10 includes a mainbody portion 14, and lid portion 16. The lid portion 16 is secured tothe body portion 14 by hinge 18 which is secured to said lid portion attwo places, namely plates 20 and 22. The catch strap 24 is rigidly3,297,218 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 secured to hinge 18 by a plate 26. Thecatch strap 24 includes a stud fastener 28 and an attaching means 30 forsecuring a filter pouch 31 thereto. Attached to the lid portion 16 andheld in place by the plate 26 is a belt strap 32 for attaching the case10 to the belt of the wearer. To facilitate attachment to the belt ofthe wearer Without removal or loosening of said belt a stud fastener 34is located on the belt strap 32. The body portion 14 has studs 36 and 38for securing the stud fasteners thereto.

A pair of D rings 40 and 42 are riveted to plate 43, on each side ofbody 14 for holding a shoulder strap 44.

The body portion 14 comprises an outer shell 46 and an insert portion48. The outer shell 46 is provided with a depression 50 in the bottomthereof in which stud 38 is secured. The inner portion extends only partway down toward the bottom of the body portion 14 and ends in the ledge52 for supporting the binocular thereon. The body portion 14 is slopedas at 53 to allow for easy access of the binocular.

The lid portion 16 comprises a cover 54 which is sloped at 55 to providea one-half inch overlap to give dust and rain protection, and an insert56 which has a cantilever action and therefore acts as a shock absorber.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. A binocular carrying case comprising a body portion including,

a shell having front, rear, side and bottom portions,

said bottom portion of said shell defining a depression,

a first stud located in said depression,

a second stud located on the front portion of said shell,

and

a first plate located on the rear upper portion of said shell,

a lid portion including,

a cover having front, rear, side and top portions,

a second plate on the rear portion of said cover,

a third plate on the top portion of said cover,

a hinge secured between said first and second plates,

a belt strap attached at one end to said third plate,

a stud fastener on the other end of said belt strap for fastening tosaid first stud,

a catch strap attached at one end to said third plate,

and

a stud fastener on the other end of said catch strap for fastening tosaid second stud.

2. A carrying case of the type described in claim 1 wherein said bodyportion includes,

an insert portion extending part way towards the bottom portion of theshell, and

a ledge at the lower end of said insert portion for supporting abinocular.

3. A carrying case of the type described in claim 1 wherein said lidportion includes,

an insert portion secured to said cover, in such manner as to provide acushioning action for a binocular contained by said case.

4. A carrying case of the type described in claim 2 wherein said bodyportion is sloped to allow easy access to binocular While the carryingcase is open.

5. The carrying case of the type described in claim 3 a 3 4 wherein saidcover includes an overlap to provide dust References Cited by theExaminer and rain protecti n.

6. A carrying case of the type described in claim 1 UNITED STATESPATENTS wherein said shell has a pair of D-shaped rings riveted to243,144 6/1881 M c nn ll t a1 224 19 the sldes 5 1,989,527 1/1935 Powers224 5 7. The carrying case of the type described in claim 1 3 269 6208/1966 DuBois 224 2 wherein said catch strap has an attaching means forsea filter Pwchtherem' GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

8. A carrying case of the type described in claim 1 wherein saidcarrying case is made of a vacuum formed 10 F. E. WERNER, AssistantExaminer.

plastic.

1. A BINOCULAR CARRYING CASE COMPRISING A BODY PORTION INCLUDING, ASHELL HAVING FRONT, REAR, SIDE AND BOTTOM PORTIONS, SAID BOTTOM PORTIONOF SAID SHELL DEFINING A DEPRESSION, A FIRST STUD LOCATED IN SAIDDEPRESSION, A SECOND STUD LOCATED ON THE FRONT PORTION OF SAID SHELL,AND A FIRST PLATE LOCATED ON THE REAR UPPER PORTION OF SAID SHELL, A LIDPORTION INCLUDING, A COVER HAVING FRONT, REAR, SIDE AND TOP PORTIONS, ASECOND PLATE ON THE REAR PORTION OF SAID COVER, A THIRD PLATE ON THE TOPPORTION OF SAID COVER, A HINGE SECURED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECONDPLATES, A BELT STRAP ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID THIRD PLATE, A STUDFASTENER ON THE OTHER END OF SAID BELT STRAP FOR FASTENING TO SAID FIRSTSTUD, A CATCH STRAP ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID THIRD PLATE, AND A STUDFASTENER ON THE OTHER END OF SAID CATCH STRAP FOR FASTENING TO SAIDSECOND STUD.